S. Janaki Funeral: Last Rites of Veteran Playback Singer To be Conducted With Full State Honours in Mysuru

Veteran playback singer S. Janaki, fondly known as the 'Nightingale of the South' will be cremated with full state honours in Mysuru on Sunday (July 12). Her mortal remains will be kept at Maharaja's College Grounds from Sunday morning to enable the public to pay their last respects before the final rites are held in the evening.

The veteran singer passed away on Saturday at the age of 88 while undergoing treatment at Apollo BGS Hospitals, Mysuru.

In a statement, Apollo BGS Hospitals said Janaki was brought to the hospital at 12:49 pm on July 11 in a critical condition and was immediately shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

According to the hospital, doctors from multiple departments treated her and monitored her condition closely. During treatment, she suffered a cardiac arrest. Doctors performed advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but despite prolonged efforts, she suffered multiple cardiac arrests and could not be revived. She was declared dead at 7:30 pm on Saturday, the hospital said.

The news of her demise was shared by her granddaughter Apsara Vydyula on instagram.

Sharing the news she announced that the singer passed away peacefully while surrounded by her loved ones.

She wrote, "Dear everyone, It is with profound sadness that I share the passing of my beloved grandmother and legendary singer, Smt. S. Janaki. She left us peacefully, surrounded by the love of her family. While our hearts are heavy, we are also filled with gratitude for the extraordinary life she lived and the immeasurable joy she brought to millions through her timeless music."

Apsara added, "To the world, she was an iconic voice whose songs became part of countless memories. To us, she was a loving grandmother whose warmth, humility, kindness, and grace will remain with us forever."

For the unversed, Janaki had been living in Mysuru's Bogadi area for the past few years.

S. Janaki was among India's most celebrated playback singers with a career that stretched across more than six decades. She recorded thousands of songs in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and several other Indian languages.

She worked with generations of composers, from S. Rajeswara Rao, K.V. Mahadevan, M.S. Viswanathan and P. Dakshina Murthy to Ilaiyaraaja and A.R. Rahman. Her voice became an integral part of South Indian cinema, and many of her songs continue to be remembered decades after their release.

Known for her ability to adapt to different styles of music, Janaki sang everything from romantic melodies and devotional songs to folk numbers and lullabies, earning admiration from audiences across generations.

PM Modi Condoles Her Demise

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over her passing, calling it an "irreparable loss" to the world of music and culture.

In a post on X, he wrote, "The passing of the distinguished playback singer S. Janaki Amma is an irreparable loss to the world of music and culture. Her songs in various languages were popular across generations. They gave voice to every emotion with unparalleled grace as well as versatility. Her melodies will continue to enchant listeners in the years to come. My heartfelt condolences to her family, countless admirers and the entire music fraternity in this hour of grief. Om Shanti."

Tributes poured in from political leaders, celebrities, musicians and fans across the country.